Chapter 12

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Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter: 12

Chapter Title: A Sincere Proposal

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"Welcome, Agatha."

He said it with an impassive expression.

Yet the handsome man made even holding flowers look effortlessly beautiful. His refined yet somehow gentle tone, combined with hearing his own voice say her name out of the blue, made Agatha's ears burn hot.

This is foul play.

She had received countless bouquets before, no doubt.

But this was the first time her heart had raced like this, filling her with such joy that her voice trembled as she spoke.

"...Enoch?"

"Yes. I hope the flowers please you. I picked every one that suited you, and before I knew it, the bouquet ended up much larger than I'd planned."

He strode forward and handed it to her. It was indeed so heavy and large that it was a handful for Agatha to hold in her arms.

"...It's perfect."

The thick floral scent that filled her nostrils was as rich and satisfying as he was. The man, whose lips curved into a tender smile, dropped to one knee right in front of her.

The attendant maids standing behind her, the palace servants, and even the imperial knights who had followed him—all of them stared wide-eyed at the two.

"Agatha."

He pressed his lips deeply to the back of her hand and whispered.

"Though our time together has been short, I swear that I am prepared to cherish, love, and protect you no matter the circumstances. So..."

"...".

"Will you accept my proposal?"

She had thought he mentioned marriage only to investigate his relatives plotting behind the scenes.

So she had assumed it might just be empty words.

But a proposal this earnest...

Agatha didn't care what he valued more. Still holding the hand he had grasped, she pulled him toward her.

"I told you it would be enough."

She rose slightly on her tiptoes and kissed his cheek. A sweet sound echoed softly as her lips touched and parted from his smooth skin.

"I'll accept your proposal."

Agatha beamed up at the man gazing down at her intently. This time, it felt like it really could be a happy marriage.

Agatha selected the largest and most beautiful vase and arranged the bouquet prettily inside it.

She didn't forget to pick one flower of each type and set them aside separately.

"Dry these nicely later so I can frame them, alright?"

"Yes, Miss."

Enoch had been silent since she accepted his proposal. But under his lingering gaze, Agatha placed her hand on his arm and led him out of the palace.

The weather was nice, her mood was great, and her health wasn't bad, so she thought they could stroll in the imperial garden.

"Mind a walk?"

As they stepped into the garden, there were more people around than usual. They stared at the pair so obviously that even Agatha, accustomed to prying eyes, noticed.

It seemed the rumor of Enoch's formal proposal had already spread like wildfire.

Having been through this countless times, Agatha knew just how to handle it.

Ignore them—that was the best approach.

As she moved along treating the onlookers as if they were invisible, Enoch caught on to her intent and followed suit.

The garden wasn't far from Agatha's palace. Warm sunlight bathed the vibrant blooms of late spring and early summer, while fountains scattered throughout sent cool water spraying into the air.

Enoch, who had been escorting her quietly, hesitated a moment before speaking.

"Are you feeling alright?"

"Of course. I'm well enough to walk around like this."

At his concerned words, Agatha widened her eyes before breaking into a soft smile.

"Still, it feels nice to have you worrying about me."

She wanted to savor this feeling longer, but there was something she needed to say.

With a gesture, she sent her attendants farther away, then handed Enoch the documents she had prepared in advance.

"Want to take a look? It's an alternative plan to present to His Majesty."

"Is this the Eastern Continent trade proposal you mentioned before?"

"Yes."

As his long, straight fingers slowly turned the pages,

Enoch's gaze stopped on one section.

"You're saying you'll step in personally for negotiations with the Mainucor Empire?"

"Just for the initial relationship-clearing phase. I'd prefer to stay out of it by offering the island alone, but His Majesty's conditions probably include me getting involved."

"Is there a specific reason you have to?"

"...".

She hesitated for a split second—should she be this blunt? But since they were to be married, it was best not to hide it. Besides, anyone who looked into it would find out anyway.

"The reason relations between the Mainucor Empire and our empire have gotten delicate is my divorce from Prince Fernando."

"...".

"It was nearly ten years ago, and it was their fault, but having me step in makes things look better all around. It'll be advantageous for the negotiations too..."

The man finally looked up from the report and fixed his gaze on her.

Even for her, who had married and divorced six times already, bringing up an ex-husband on the day she received a proposal felt awkward.

It was just something that had to be done, yet finishing her words was hard.

"Anyway, I think I'll have to visit that island once. My guess is His Majesty will want me to go soon."

"...I see."

Was he surprised?

As Agatha quietly studied his unchanging expression,

"My lady."

An imperial knight approached with a polite announcement, pointing to a distant attendant. It was a chamberlain from the imperial household.

"Marquis Aratus. Lady Noblesse."

The attendant bowed properly before continuing.

"His Majesty requests your presence for luncheon two days from now. Marquis Aratus at your side is also invited."

"I see?"

He must have heard about Enoch's proposal to her.

With the audience granted, they had cleared nine-tenths of the plan. Sending the attendant away, Agatha looked up at him with a bright smile.

"Perfect. Shall we meet at His Majesty's palace in two days, then?"

"No."

Her eyes widened at the swift refusal. After gazing down at her a moment, he continued politely.

"I'll come fetch you. Get ready and wait for me at the palace that day."

"...!"

Peering into her trembling violet eyes as if gauging her reaction, he pressed a kiss to her cheek.

His soft lips touched her smooth skin with a gentle smack and pulled away.

"See you in two days, Agatha."

Agatha hid her trembling eyes beneath her long lashes. It was something she had done casually just moments ago, yet her heart pounded uncontrollably.

The proposal had happened in the secluded palace, but the kiss was in the open garden.

The news spread like a massive tidal wave, crashing across the entire capital.

It was the announcement of Agatha Noblesse's seventh marriage.

Clop, clop—

On the way back to the Aratus mansion in the capital,

Enoch rode as usual, but his mind was elsewhere.

Thinking about what he had just done.

He had impulsively kissed her cheek.

Unlike the refined contact when he had kissed her ring finger instead of giving her a ring, this had been raw.

As he kissed her cheek, feeling a subtle discomfort oddly twist into satisfaction, he hadn't shown it outwardly but had been startled by his own reaction.

Come to think of it, she had piqued his interest strangely from their first meeting.

With her weary, delicate face.

Worrying about the aftermath before he could even sheathe his sword.

As Enoch awkwardly brushed his face, another scene flashed in his mind the moment his tension eased, making him blink slowly.

When he had proposed. The instant she smiled faintly and rose on her tiptoes.

His exceptional knight's dynamic vision captured it all like a painting: her softly crinkling eyes, her lovely lips, the brilliant sparkle—everything.

Her trembling eyes, her faintly flushed cheeks, and finally, the long lashes that hid her expression.

Was she that beautiful?

He had known Agatha Noblesse was beautiful, of course.

But this struck his heart, not just his mind.

"...She's getting under my skin."

"Pardon?"

The Aratus knights trailing behind perked up their ears for a moment, but Enoch said nothing more.

Meanwhile, there were those who exploded in rage at the news of Agatha's seventh marriage spreading through the capital.

They were none other than the Neuta Dowager Duchess, the Neuta Duchess Dowager, and the Neuta Lady—the very ones who had prompted Agatha's sixth divorce just three months prior.

The previous duke's wife, known as the Neuta Duchess Dowager and mother of the current Duke Theodore Neuta, slammed the table hard.

Bang!

"Marrying again before three months have even passed since the divorce!"

It had happened while she was secluded in the Neuta ducal residence for three months amid the sudden divorce scandal.

The most agitated of them, the Duchess Dowager, cried out.

"Mother. What are we to do about this? Theodore's reputation will become a laughingstock at this rate!"

"As if that could happen, Agatha."

The one gently remonstrating her was the current duke's grandmother, known as the Neuta Dowager Duchess.

"Would that girl Agatha do such a thing if she were in her right mind? Not while I'm still alive."

"Of course I trust you, Mother, but that girl's influence isn't to be underestimated!"